As the New Year gets underway, we anticipate lots of new releases from some of our favorite artists. However, a new name jumps to the head of the line in this year; a duo from Baltimore named Beach House. Their first album for the Sub Pop label comes out this January, entitled Teen Dream, and may just be one of the albums we're talking about again when we come full circle in 2010.

Retreating to a desolate location in upstate New York to record their third album, the duo of Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand emerged with a stunning collection of songs. Highlights like "Norway captivate with Victoria's seductive vocals on top of a woozy backdrop of psychedelic guitars and panting harmonies.

The albums ten songs are full and robust compositions, each song taking the time to develop and thaw out. Songs like the album opener, "Zebra", build upon layers of sound before unfolding a powerful, haunting chorus.

Teen Dream is the duo's third release since forming in 2006. And the test of Teen Dream is not how immediate the songs are, but rather how they linger. The slow pace and dreamy atmosphere created by Beach House lends itself to how inviting Teen Dream actually is.

Simply stated, Contra, the sophomore effort from Vampire Weekend does not miss. As a follow-up to their much admired debut, the new album is open to new, adventurous musical avenues all while still harnessing their worldly appetite. Unquestionably, Contra is smart, artistic, and — as you'd expect from Vampire Weekend — catchy.

From the opening notes of "Horchata", Contra exhibits a vibe of openness. The songs are all-encompassing from the ska-flavored "Holiday", to the dueling guitars on the punky "Cousins". The blueprint to Contra is one of variety, not simply sticking to the guidelines of the conventional 2-3 minute pop song. This time around, the band doesn't shy away from more expansive arrangements. Just listen to "Diplomat's Son" or a more muscular, driving pop approach to a song like "Giving Up The Gun".

Working with a wider outlook and maintaining their playfulness, Vampire Weekend has not just crafted another remarkable collection, but they've dismissed any doubts about the potential of this band. For a generation ready to be challenged again by pop music, Vampire Weekend is the answer.

A few years removed from arguably their most successful studio album to date, the veteran indie-rockers, Spoon, return with their seventh studio album Transference. And while its predecessor dipped into a pop arena at times, Transference consciously avoids that avenue opting for a raw, unapologetic approach.

In between albums both front man Britt Daniel and drummer Jim Eno dabbled in producing albums for some other bands. And for the first time, Spoon kept the production duties in house with Daniel and Eno leading the charge on Transference. While often times bands search for that level of 'perfection' in the studio that they're unable to capture otherwise, Spoon uses the studio as more of a sonic playground. On Transference, Spoon is fearless. Unafraid to twist a knob when the rulebook says not too, or to abruptly stop a song mid-chorus — like on "The Mystery Zone."

And while Spoon undoubtedly likes to tinker in the studio and they do on Transference, they're also not afraid to just let the tape roll regardless of the results. In fact, the band confesses that five of the eleven songs on the new album are original demos. That honesty and unfiltered approach shines especially on the beautiful, piano ballad "Goodnight Laura."

It's that honestly and fearlessness that has won over Spoon fans record after record, show after show. Transference is obviously no different and certainly an adventure.

The unavoidable truth about the new album from Corinne Bailey Rae is that it comes from one of the most painful places one can imagine. The Sea, the highly anticipated follow-up to her Grammy nominated debut album, features songs that were written on both sides of the unexpected passing of her husband. The result is an album that is as you would imagine, personal and poignant.

The Sea is not searching for awards or accolades. It’s a record whose purpose better serves as an introspective journey and the ability for artistic expression. And ironically for that reason, it may just end up finding those material honors. Certainly the idea of longing is hard to escape on The Sea. The honesty however is not only admirable, but at times inspiring. From the opening lines of “Are You Here,” to the confessional "I’d Do It All Again" Corinne Bailey Rae is an open book.

And while the subject matter isn't always bright, the music soars. Albeit not as playful as her debut, The Sea has plenty of youthful moments, including the song "Paris Nights / New York Mornings."

The Sea whips up a lot of emotions, yet again it's Rae's honesty that is most endearing. The album is successful because of how genuine it is chronicling how this artist is dealing with a personal tragedy. And with the music to match, The Sea from Corinne Bailey Rae is an impressive collection.

For folks that may have first claimed their breakout potential at last year's South By Southwest Music Festival, Local Natives resisted rushing out their debut album. But their patience and ability to road-test their material makes this one pass the big test.

For folks that may have first claimed their breakout potential at last year's South By Southwest Music Festival, the band Local Natives resisted rushing out their debut album. In fact, nearly a year later many of the songs that first captivated audiences and earned fans are officially ready for release on the album Gorilla Manor.

From Silverlake, California, Local Natives are a five piece indie rock band whose sound is founded in multi-part harmonies and dynamic percussion. On Gorilla Manor, the band stands apart from some of their contemporaries not only with a more worldly sense of percussion but also a more muscular presence. Songs like "Sun Hands" play to the strength of their beautiful harmonies, yet at the same time witness a more aggressive style of playing from the band.

As is often the case with acts with this much potential, Gorilla Manor doesn't sound like a "debut." The guys in Local Natives all share a house together out in LA, and collectively wrote this album there (Gorilla Manor is their name for the house). The time together, under one roof and the constant touring unquestionably lends itself to why the songs of Gorilla Manor sound so flushed out. The patience and ability to road-test their material is the reason why Local Natives pass the big test on their debut.

A few years removed from his last studio recording and just a couple years since walking away from a major label Citizen Cope finds himself in what seems to be an awfully comfortable place making music. Cope will release The Rainwater LP a new recording of looser, expressive songs and the debut album to be released on his own label Rainwater Recordings.

Without the restraints of a major label, The Rainwater LP is another witness to the ever evolving music industry. From the production to the playing to the artwork, this album is 100% Cope. And the music speaks to that fact. The songs on The Rainwater LP are relatively stripped-down, mostly acoustic. The power comes in the sentiment of the songs and is at its peak on moments like "Healing Hands."

For Cope, one would have to imagine that his artistic vision is met on The Rainwater LP. Independence for a musician is only as powerful as what is being created. But simply stated the songs on this new album have the power to be moving.

After bonding over a profound affinity for country, bluegrass and folk music, four friends Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane began putting their passionate song-writing to the works in 2007. Their enthusiastic passion for music was infectiously joyous and launched them to the forefront of the underground folk scene in London. That same infectious passion is the reason XPN has chosen Mumford and Sons as the XPN Artist To Watch for the month of June.

While in London, their old grit fusion of Stills, Nash and Young and Kings of Leon quickly drew in crowds. The boys, still in their young twenties, immediately began with their new batch of energetic and warming material. As the new rave of the town, the band toured extensively throughout 2008. They were featured in various popular festivals in tours thoughout London and eventually worked their way to touring America in support of Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn, the Sussex Wit and Noah and the Whale. With EP's shimmering on the surface, it was only a matter of time before they would successfully piece together their debut album Sigh No More.

Now on Glassnote records, Mumford & Sons released their breakout album to an overwhelmingly enthusiastic crowd of fans and critics. Striking the UK charts at #11 and even being labeled one of the greatest albums released, Sigh No More has garnered remarkable success in such a short period of time. With their recent tour with The Maccabees at an end, the group continues with their global tour. Already, several shows have been sold out. From San Francisco to Vancouver to Great Britain to Australia, people are uncovering the special blend of exciting influences that is the music of Mumford and Sons.

Every month, the station's soothsayers and tastemakers select what they consider to be the best of the new. As a CDOM Club member, you'll receive all twelve of the CD of the Month selections during the year along with all of our special XPN releases -- including Live at the World Cafe CDs and XPN New Music Samplers. That's at least 16 CDs total!

XPN Artist To Watch, banjo-spiked British folk-rockers Mumford & Sons released their breakout album, Sigh No More to an overwhelmingly enthusiastic crowd of fans and critics. Striking the UK charts at #11, these guys are bound for bigger things!

Pioneers of the trip-hop genre, the British duo Massive Attack emerge with their first studio album in nearly seven years, Heligoland. Their return is welcomed with an arsenal of guest vocalists, and an understated tension-filled musical landscape.

Acclaimed over the course of their career for their sonic innovation, Massive Attack's fifth studio album arrives with the usual sense of unpredictability and this time around a collection of songs dripped in simplicity. For the majority of Heligoland, the backdrop is unassuming and the character of the album is brought to life through the voices that grace it. TV On The Radio's Tunde Adebimpe leads the way on the album lead-off "Pray For Rain," usual suspect Horace Andy is heard on "Girl I Love You," and Elbow frontman is a perfect voice for the dramatic "Flat Of The Blade."

Those are among just a few of the number of voices on Heligoland, Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval, Blur's Damon Albarn and Martina Topley-Bird all contribute as well. And despite the plethora of personalities, the album maintains a consistent, almost cinematic, feel. Not lost over the years is Massive Attack's ability to create drama in their music, and the tension is found again in this new chapter.

As veteran artists continue to make music, some often have the benefit of resting on their laurels. Some however, don't need to. For Peter Gabriel, the latter is true and his new album of cover songs is proof. Scratch My Back is a collection of songs that spans not just decades or genres, but musical sensibilities.

The album would begin as the idea of a simple "song swap," where Gabriel would record the work of an artist and that artist would then cover Gabriel. What would result is a fully-realized 12 song album that leaves familiar favorites like Paul Simon's "The Boy In The Bubble" in a beautifully altered state. And from there Gabriel fast-forwards almost 20 years to take on current indie-rock gems like Arcade Fires "My Body Is A Cage."

The formula for Scratch My Back is on the surface rather simple; the songs are primarily Gabriel backed by an orchestra. The album features no guitars, no drums, just plenty of strings and Gabriel's bone-chilling vocals. And as intriguing as the actual music, what will continue to spark conversation is the song choice. From the aforementioned, to the Magnetics Fields "Book Of Love" and Lou Reed's "The Power Of The Heart." Scratch My Back covers a vast musical spectrum and does so in incredible fashion.